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Her business
SayNoMore! Promotions produces anything with your logo or brand messaging on it. This includes simple but elegant writing instruments, business accessories and tastefully screen-printed or embroidered apparel.
With 20 years of experience in direct overseas manufacturing, we offer significant cost savings in production. Our purpose is to make ordering promotional products painless and fun.
I earned my bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Kansas. I was "discovered" by my first post-college employer while running off my resume at Kinkos, two weeks after graduation. With this employer, I learned how to be an entrepreneur, how to be resourceful, and how to make sure you compensate and motivate your employees well.
In 1999, I used all of my career experience to mold my own company. My husband of seven years and I worked together for this business. We live with our two children in a small mountain town outside of Vail, Colorado.
Her 'aha moment' or inspiration
Past work experience and new legislation is still transforming my company today.
Recently, a new PhRMA code (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America) prohibited drug company representatives from handing out products with their logos on them. The code was passed in June of 2008 and hindered nearly 70% of the business.
When the PhRMA code was announced, our large pharmaceutical client put everything on hold, as did most pharmaceutical companies. We were working on more than a million dollars worth of projects that would have been delivered before the end of the year. the code was a result of a fear that doctors were being influenced by gifts from pharmaceutical companies. According to the code, pharmaceutical companies could still hand out "strictly educational" items. But even if we put educational information on a clipboard (such as disease states, symptoms, treatments, and dosages), the clipboard does not pass as "educational" because its primary purpose is to hold paper, not educate. As you can imagine, this put a huge crunch on what qualifies.
Compliance to the code is voluntary but most pharmaceutical companies are following it to the letter.
On top of that, the economic downturn has caused companies to cut marketing and promotional budgets so the balance of our business was dramatically reduced. I have never had to worry about sales. All of our business has come from our satisfied clients referring others to us.
So the 'aha!' is learning to become creative with our marketing and making sure we are tracking every single penny. This challenge has become a great learning experience.
Her biggest obstacle and how she overcame it
This past year has by far been the most challenging of my career. I am still in the process of overcoming it. It has taken coaching, the support of my amazing husband, employees, the Make Mine a Million $ Business RACE community and my faith to get me there. There have been many days in the past year that I did not feel like getting out of bed. Each day, though, I made myself do it and tried to find the things and people in my life to be grateful for.
How she finds work life balance
I have not yet perfected this! I sure try to find the balance, but in reality, one element always suffers. My husband is a saint; I am so blessed to have him. We work together, but he is more "Mr. Mom" at home. He is an amazing cook (I could eat a bowl of cereal for every meal and be happy) and amazing with our children. We have a live-in au pair who helps manage our lives. I may not be with my kids as much as other moms, but when I am with them, I am 100% present with them. Plus, I am teaching both my daughter and my son that a woman can be a wonderful mother, a loving wife and have a successful career.
Her three tips for future entrepreneurs
1. To quote one of my heroes, Nell Merlino, Believe in you!
2. Do not let others make you feel guilty about having a career and full life.
3. You must take care of yourself.
What is the Make Mine a Million $ Business RACE?
The Make Mine a Million $ Business RACE is a yearlong business growth marathon aiming to help businesses reach the benchmark of their choice—$250,000, $500,000 or $1 million in revenues. The RACE is sponsored by Count Me In, a national not-for-profit provider of resources, business education and community support for women seeking to grow micro businesses to million-dollar enterprises.
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